Apple may use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon SoC for low-cost iPhone

According to a report from China Times, it has been revealed that an unnamed industry watcher knows about Apple’s plans to use TSMC’s 28nm process SoCs, for use in their cheaper version of  the iPhone, featuring the Snapdragon processor. It is also being said that Apple would start the manufacturing of these handsets during the beginning of the second quarter.

This maybe the first push that Apple is making to switch from Samsung, who were behind the A6 and A6X processor fabrication for the company. Apple will most likely continue to stick to manufacturing of A Series processors used iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, as well as the A6 processors for iPhone 5 and 4th generation iPad.

This step may make sense for Apple as 28nm based Snapdragon, specifically 400 and 800 series, offer onboard chip support for cellular modem, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Since use of an all-in-one solution would help to lower the cost of the device, Apple could serious consider this option. To add more value on the onboard chip, some Snapdragon chips also come with 4G LTE functionality. This may or may not be true as the source indicated that Apple plans to stick with a 3G solution for its initial models of low-cost iPhones, most likely to follow up with a 4G offering further down the line. Renesas Electronics would be producing the mobile device’s LCD drivers, whereas the Flash memory will be sourced from companies such as Toshiba, Elpida, Micron Technology, SK Hynix and even SanDisk.

It was recently reported by an analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said that Apple would be introducing a low-cost iPhone with a hybrid fiberglass/plastic build, along with iPhone 5S. What was not said is which SoC solution Apple are considering for the cheaper alternate.

The rumour of cheaper version of the iPhone with a Snapdragon processor came in January as Digitimes made a report that the companies dual-core MSM8960 or quad-core APQ8064 solution was suggested for Apple’s low-cost iPhone.

Via: Apple Insider